Lot 154. A Qajar diamond and enamel 'Neshane Astrab' (Order of the Sun), Persia, circa 1915-16. Estimate 8,000 — 12,000 GBP. Photo Sotheby's.

the central enamel roundel bearing the face of the female sun (aftab), emanating diamond-set rays (circa 240 diamonds in total), mounted as a brooch on the reverse, in an old, initialled box; 6.5cm. diam. 

Provenance: Lady Lucia Marling C.B.E., wife of Sir Charles Murray Marling, G.C.M.G., C.B. (1862-1933), British Minister at Tehran 1915-19

Note: The Order of the Sun ('Neshane Astrab') was introduced by Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar (r.1848-96) in 1873 for royal women, and was presented to Queens and Princesses as diplomatic gifts, including Queen Victoria.

The present Order was bestowed upon Lady Lucia Marling C.B.E., wife of Sir Charles Murray Marling, G.C.M.G., C.B. (1862-1933), British Minister at Tehran 1915-19. Although it was rare for such an order to be bestowed to the wife of a British Minister, Lady Marling was close to a number of members of the Persian Royal family, and she and her husband collected various works of art a during their stay, including early Persian ceramics that are now in the Victoria and Albert Museum (see inv. no. C.186-1928; C.164-1928; C.162-1928).

Sotheby's. Arts of the Islamic World, Londres, 20 avr. 2016, 10:30 AM